File handling apparatus



May 24, 1955 c. A. PATE FILA; HANDLING APPARATUS Filed July 26, 1952 lllliillllil INVENTOR CHARLES A. PATE A* z5. BUWQAAZLM M ATTORNEYS United States atent O 2,708,934 FILE HANDLING APPARATUS Charles A. Pate, Lufkin, Tex. Application July 26, 1952, Serial No. 301,021 1 Claim. (Cl. 129--1) This invention relates to apparatus for filing papers and the like, and more particularly to multipurpose apparatus for use as a stationary temporary means for maintaining a iile in a predetermined order while individual papers are added thereto or extracted therefrom or as a portable loose leaf binder for retaining a le of papers in a predetermined order while permitting separating each paper in said tile from other papers therein without disturbing the predetermined order thereof.

The tiling of papers such as correspondence, memoranda, and the like conventionally includes binding papers together in bunches according to some predetermined arrangement-e. g. topically, chronologically, etc. Various types of fasterners are in widespread use for this purpose and such fasteners are usually adapted to bind a tile of papers tightly together through one or more holes punched therein. It is frequently necessary to add additional papers to or extract papers from such a bound iile and it may be desired that such added or extracted papers belong in the middle of the bound file so that such adding or extraction of papers-particularly by a file clerk or like person who may be essentially unfamiliar with the subject matter of the tile-admits of substantial disarrangement of the desired order of papers in the file. Furthermore, in order to save ling space, it is conventional to utilize fasteners or clamps for binding les so constructed that the papers in the file are bound tightly and unyieldingly together. Nonuniformity of paper size and nonuniformity of the margins thereof, frequently makes reading or using the subject matter of any particular paper in the file difficult because of such tight binding.

According to this invention, filing apparatus is provided for temporarily yet positively holding a file of papers and retaining them in a predetermined order while the fasteners or clamp binding the file together is opened for the insertion or extraction of individual papers, and the apparatus includes a provision for removing the fasteners completely from the le While retained by this apparatus so that a tightly bound le can be utilized in the apparatus as a loose leaf binder without danger of disarranging or disturbing the order of papers in the iile.

It is accordingly a principal object of this invention to provide filing apparatus which will retain a bound file of papers in a predetermined order notwithstanding the opening of the binding thereof and which includes a provision for addition or extraction of individual papers without releasing other papers in the file from the filing apparatus to maintain all papers in the file in a predetermined order notwithstanding the addition or extraction of individual papers or the opening of the file binding.

Another object of this invention is to provide filing apparatus of the character described which will retain a bound lile of papers in a predetermined order and which includes a provision for complete removal of the binding thereof without releasing any of the papers in such files from the filing apparatus and without disturbing the predetermined order thereof.

Still another object of this invention is to provide ling apparatus of the character described which will positively hold and securely retain a file of papers in a predetermined order while permitting the complete separation of each said paper from the others as if bound in a conventional loose leaf binder.

Another object of this invention is to provide filing ap paratus of the character described particularly adapted for use with files of papers tightly bound together by a double armed fastener inserted through the le through 2,708,934 Patented May 24, 1955 ice two perforations therein and including a provision for locking the male portion of the fastener to the filing apparatus against movement thereof as papers are removed from the fastener.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claim.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate a now preferred embodiment of the invention and in which like characters of references designate like parts throughout the several views thereof:

Fig. 1 is a perspective showing of apparatus embodying this invention with a bound le of papers received thereon but not retained thereby;

Fig. 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of Fig. l and showing a iile of papers in retained position;

Fig. 3 is a detailed view of apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 but showing a file in position with the binding thereof open and part of the iile removed;

Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating the mechanism for the removal of a binder from the le and Fig. 6 is a partial section similar to Figs. 4 and 5 but showing the mechanism for locking a le binder against upward movement thereof.

Referring more particularly to Fig. l, the filing apparatus is shown as used with a bound file of papers 10 tightly bound together along the end 11 thereof by a fastener 16, generally known as an ACCO fastener, and comprising a bottom transverse portion 12 with two upwardly extending ilexible arms 13 inserted upwardly through two perforations 14 in the papers to be bound together. Such a fastener, as is well-known, also comprises a top female plate 15 through which the arms 14 extend and over which they are bent and clamped (as shown in Fig. l). ln addition to the two holes 14 punched into the papers to be filed to accommodate the ACCO fastener (conventionally on 2% inch centers) two additional holes are punched into the papers of files to be used iu accordance with this invention.

The ling apparatus, as indicated in Fig. 1, comprises a base which may be of wood or other suitable material, two upright stationary posts 26 spaced apart a distance greater than the distance between the holes 14 and a distance coinciding with the distance between the holes 20 (as shown in Fig. 1). Aligned with each of the stationary posts 26 is a rotatable post 27 having a generally horizontal portion 28 releasably engaging the top end 29 of the posts 26. This generally horizontal portion 28 is slightly curved as Shown in the drawing and otherwise configured in known manner for the ready passage of the perforations 20 in papers to be filed throughout the extent of posts 26 and 27 and horizontal portion 2S. Posts 27, as mentioned, are rotatable about the vertical axis thereof so that they may be rotated by moving horizontal portion 28 outwardly into open position and out of engagement with the tops 29 of stationary posts 26 as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. l for the insertion or extraction of perforated papers over posts 26. The two rotatable posts 27 are preferably interconnected at their lower ends in known manner by known mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 30 whereby the simultaneous rotation of both posts 27 may be achieved to move both elements 2S outwardly into open position by one-hand operation on but one of said elements 2S.

A passage 3S is constructed through the base 25 and between the stationary posts 26. The dimensions of passage are such as will admit the unobstructed passagel downwardly therethrough of the male portion 12-13 of fastener 16, and passage 35 is so positioned with respect to stationary posts 26 that, when the file is positioned on the apparatus with the posts 26 inserted through the holes 20, fastener 16 will overlie and coincide with passage 35. Passage 35 preferably is also of such dimensions as will admit the operators fingers therethrough to grip the bottom portion 12 of fastener 16.

Adjacent passage 3S and between the posts 27 is mounted sliding blade 40 which preferably carries at the outer end thereof an upturned lip 41 for convenient gripping by the operator. The mounting plate 42 for blade 40 provides for sliding movement of blade 40 from an open position as shown in Figs. 1 and 5 to a closed position overlying passage 35 as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 6. An upwardly extending stop or flange 43 is provided to limit the movement of blade 40 in one direction and prevent its being withdrawn from the apparatus.

In the operation of the device, the file of papers 10, tightly bound together by fasteners 16 and having auxiliary holes 20 punched completely therethrough, is placed upon the apparatus and retained there by rotating the posts 27 outwardly so that the elements 28 are in open position and inserting stationary posts 26 upwardly through holes 20. The posts 27 are then rotated so that the elements 28 engage the top 29 of posts 26 in closed position to provide a continuous ring type binding as in Fig. 2. The fastener 16 is opened and the top or female portion 15 thereof completely removed.

If it is desired to extract a paper from or add a paper to a central portion of the file, all papers above the paper to be extracted or the position where the paper is to be added are raised upwardly along posts 26 until they are completely free of upwardly extending arms 13 of fastener 16 and are moved on around and across elements 2S onto posts 27 as shown in Fig. 4. The elements 28 are then moved outwardly into open position permitting the addition of another paper on top of those now resting on the base and shown in full lines in Fig. 4 by the insertion of such paper downwardly over the posts 26. Alternatively the top papers of the portion of the file resting on base 25 and shown in full lines in Fig. 4 can be removed by withdrawing them upwardly over the posts 26 while the elements 28 are in outward or open position. Thereafter elements 28 are closed and the original top portion of the file (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4) is slid back up post 27, across elements 28, and downwardly over posts 26 and upturned arms 13 of fastener 16 which can then be closed and the whole file removed from the apparatus.

It will be apparent that this sequence of operations permits access to the central portion to the file as well as the complete unbinding of the file from its permanent binding, and yet all the papers in the file including those removed from the permanent fasteners are retained in their original predetermined order by virtue of posts 26 and 27 inserted through the holes 20 in the papers.

If it is desired completely to remove the permanent binding or fastener 16 from the file in order that the papers may be used as if in a loose leaf binder without being tightly bound together, the file is inserted on posts 26 as above noted and the sliding blade 40 moved to open position as shown in Figs. l and 5. Thereafter the top portion 15 of the permanent fastener 16 is removed and the bottom portion 12 and its upturned arms 13 are completely withdrawn from the papers downwardly through passage as shown in Fig. 5, thus leaving the file loosely bound by posts 26 and 27 inserted through the holes 2t) so that the complete extent of each individual paper in the file may be viewed and so that the file can be opened to any particular paper without interference by the tight binding.

lf, as frequently happens, nonuniformity of the papers or the punching thereof causes some binding of the papers when it is attempted to remove them upwardly off arms 12 of permanent fastener 16, blade 40 is moved into closed position and inserted betwen the file of papers and the lower portion 12 of the fastener as shown in Fig. 6, and locks the file of papers thereon against upward movement as papers are withdrawn upwardly from the top of the file.

lt will accordingly be seen that apparatus is provided for greatly simplifying the insertion or extraction of papers in a permanently bound file and that the chance for disarrangement of the file even during such operation inevitably is minimized or eliminated. Furthermore, the sa .ie multipurpose apparatus can be utilized as a loose leaf binder for an otherwise permanently bound file which can be positively and securely bound in loose leaf fashion before the permanent binding is removed, thus eliminating chance for disarrangement of the papers therein. lt will also accordingly be seen that the apparatus just described is not limited to the use of a socalled ACCO or double armed fastener, but would achieve substantially equal advantages and utility when used with two so-called round head or split paper fasteners also in widespread use for binding files of papers.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

Multipurpose apparatus for arranging and handling a file of papers having two pairs of respectively inner and outer holes aligned thereacross adjacent one end thereof and with said inner pair of holes adapted to receive releasable fastener means including a bottom portion of predetermined substantial length and width and a pair of arms at the ends thereof for insertion through said first pair of holes, said apparatus comprising a base for receiving said papers thereon, a first pair of upright posts fixed on said base adjacent one end thereof in predetermined spacd relation to receive and retain said papers by insertion through said outer pair of holes, a second pair of upright posts on said base closer to said end of said base than said first posts and in the same spaced relation for receiving and temporarily retaining in maintained order papers removed from said first pair of posts, movable means releasably interconnecting said pairs of posts for passage of said papers from one said pair to the other while maintaining the order thereof, means delining a passage extending through said base between and aligned with said first posts and of lesser length than thc space between said first posts for access to said fastener means of papers retained by said first pair of posts, the dimensions of said passage defining an area greater than the area defined by said bottom portion of said fastener means for unimpeded removal of said fastener means downwardly through said passage free of said papers, a blade member of substantially lesser width than the space between said first posts and adapted to extend between said arms of said fastener means, means on said base forming a guideway supporting said blade member for sliding movement between said first posts, means on the outer end of said blade member forming a handle located between said first posts and said end of said base for manual operation thereof, and means on said base and said blade member cooperating to define an outer limit position of said blade member opening said passage References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 294,775 Elam Mar. 11, 1884 699,290 Daniel May 6, 1902 812,653 Heid Feb. 13, 1906 

